The problem with assuming PCOS means low milk supply is that it is a
syndrome, and not a disease. So there are many different ways it manifests that are
all lumped into the PCOS diagnosis.
I have insulin resistance, no menstrual cycle, higher testosterone, and
cystic ovaries, but I'm not overweight. Some women will have skin tags and cycle
normally, but be overweight and have excessive acne and/or facial hair.
Some women don't know they have anything wrong until they have problems
conceiving and do bloodwork. So which of these women will have problems with their
milk supply? The name Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is actually quite debatable
in medical circles because the cystic ovaries seem to be one symptom, rather
than the definitive sign. Many women don't have cysts on their ovaries at
all.
As Karleen said, I have been diagnosed with severe PCOS at 15 years of age,
yet I'm now successfully and without supplements nursing my 4th adopted child
(right here, as I type, in fact!). But when I didn't have alot of milk with
baby #1, I actually stopped nursing him at 6 months when I heard about the
connection between PCOS and low supply, blaming it on my PCOS and figuring that
I wasn't ever going to be able to get rid of the stupid SNS so why bother?
I was wrong in thinking I couldn't make enough milk, and after a few weeks
was able to ditch the lact-aid with the next child and the following two as
well. There are just so many variables, it's impossible to predict. There
have also been reports of some PCOS patients have an oversupply of milk.
So what can we do besides being aware and encouraging? I'm not sure. But
there are just so many variables. I don't know what made the difference
between the 1st and 2nd babe. I stayed on my metformin with #2 because I knew
more about breastfeeding pharmacology by then, so maybe that was it. Maybe I
was just more comfortable with my body in general or had more confidence. I
pumped in advance of baby #2, so that could have had something to do with it.
Maybe nursing #1 built more breast tissue. I really don't know. But I don't
think PCOS had as much to do with my low supply as just being an adoptive
mother.
Kerri Smith
LLLL, Chilliwack, BC, Canada
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